Sony patents break-apart hybrid Move/Dual Shock controller

A Sony patent submitted last year has been published. It details a hybrid Move/Dual Shock controller that can split in the middle. It seems this is going to give Move even more precision with two calibration spheres. Each section has its own magnetometer, gyro and vibration.

This is very interesting. But is there really a need for the 2 huge balls on top? I mean really? It not only looks hideous, but makes it seem like low grade technology. The Wii remote didn't have a huge ball on top of it for tracking motion, so why does this need it? I like the idea and I think this would be quite comfortable with half a remote in each hand for motion control games, whereas a user can quickly snap them together for a more control activated game.

No reason to bring up the balls again. I know this is Beavis and Butthead humor (hehe, he said balls) but this has been discussed ad nauseum a few years ago, especially regarding the difference in motion controller approaches. These are just patent concept sketches and anybody that is over 5 years old knows final products rarely look like their patent sketches. In addition, Sony has said several times they will be able to reduce the size of the reference spheres (hehe, he said balls).

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if the next Xbox sticks to controller / TV / Couch and Sony decides to go the move route more, I will by only a Xbox because honestly, I just want to sit on the $#@!in couch and game. I'm sick of this move / kinect $#@!. ugh

This is very interesting. But is there really a need for the 2 huge balls on top? I mean really? It not only looks hideous, but makes it seem like low grade technology. The Wii remote didn't have a huge ball on top of it for tracking motion, so why does this need it? I like the idea and I think this would be quite comfortable with half a remote in each hand for motion control games, whereas a user can quickly snap them together for a more control activated game.

The balls are necessary to give the PSeye a clear and easily recognisable point of reference which has facilitated Moves ability to do 1:1 tracking. You couldn't play a game like Tumble with the Wii mote.

I think it's a cool concept. I don't see myself using the Move much, or any motion-controlled peripheral, but it would save people the trouble of buying an entirely new set of controllers. If split into two, however, the controls might be a bit awkward if based on your traditional Dualshock layout.

if the next Xbox sticks to controller / TV / Couch and Sony decides to go the move route more, I will by only a Xbox because honestly, I just want to sit on the $#@!in couch and game. I'm sick of this move / kinect $#@!. ugh

If they can miniaturize the reference tracking technology in the spheres and have it exist comfortably within the existing shell of the current DualShock or "Boomerang" controller design, it would do real well. As it is now though, the reference spheres make the controller ergonomically incorrect. I guess this is just one of those things we'll have to wait and see about.

If the next Playstation is built around anything Move related I will firmly ignore it. I got 2 moves and a nav and NEVER use them. There is a few fundamental flaws that BREAKS the move for me. 1) You have to calibrate these for every use. 2) You NEED optimal lighting or it won't work.

The 1st issue is a minor annoyance. The 2nd issue is a deal breaker. I remember not being able to get through the training missions on The Fight cause I couldn't get enough light in the living room. Other times it was too much light. Just sucked the joy right out of owning those pieces of junk having to deal with something so idiotic when everything else that is motion control is plug and play and works great.

The Wii Plus controllers are way more fun, easy, and practical to use. Kinect is great cause it's infrared. You can still use it without absolute optimal lighting. In fact you can use it in the dark.

The Move is probably the stupidest technology Sony ever conceived. Just the one fact, needing optimal lighting just to use it.....it never should of left the drawing board stages.

Besides, those pictures are really old. I remember seeing those schematics on-line years ago. I think at one point that's how the Move was going to be.

If the next Playstation is built around anything Move related I will firmly ignore it. I got 2 moves and a nav and NEVER use them. There is a few fundamental flaws that BREAKS the move for me. 1) You have to calibrate these for every use. 2) You NEED optimal lighting or it won't work.

The 1st issue is a minor annoyance. The 2nd issue is a deal breaker. I remember not being able to get through the training missions on The Fight cause I couldn't get enough light in the living room. Other times it was too much light. Just sucked the joy right out of owning those pieces of junk having to deal with something so idiotic when everything else that is motion control is plug and play and works great.

The Wii Plus controllers are way more fun, easy, and practical to use. Kinect is great cause it's infrared. You can still use it without absolute optimal lighting. In fact you can use it in the dark.

The Move is probably the stupidest technology Sony ever conceived. Just the one fact, needing optimal lighting just to use it.....it never should of left the drawing board stages.

Besides, those pictures are really old. I remember seeing those schematics on-line years ago. I think at one point that's how the Move was going to be.

I used to play Killzone in the dark with Move. I never had any accuracy problems.

If this becomes the stock controller, then you will get a PS Eye out of the box, too (the balls on the PS Move were for the PS Eye to recognize depth and positioning).

I always loved the breakaway controller idea. They had concepts illustrations of this for years and it was only a matter of time before they it would evolve into an actual DualShock. Traditional gaming could innovate from mini controllers; especially when you can assemble and de-assemble on-the-fly, which could allow for multiple and/or dynamic gameplay mechanics in a given game.

The balls need to be removable, though. The light recognition concept causes a remarkable cosmetic failure on Sony's part. The Eye (or whatever it will be on PS4) needs to recognize movement in a way that is less obtrusive to the controller's design so that the tech can compete better. I'm sorry but no average Joe will want to play traditional video games with two giant orbs.

Now if you will excuse me, I am going to end this post here before I start talking about removable balls again (eff, too late).

They could always make them smaller or replace it with a more subtle sensor. And I severely doubt that all we would be playing were motion-controlled games, simply because Sony might incorporate parts of Move to the next iteration of Dualshock. Move was never hugely successful to begin with.

I think Sony has hinted at this controller with their PS Vita ads. I noticed the controller snapped apart to turn into the Vita to show whether it's in the living room or on a train. PS gaming can be had.

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